| STAR TREK FAN FILM | |
| The Fall of Starbase One | |
| |
| Series: | These Are The Voyages - a Star Trek Fan Series |
| Released: | 2018 |
| Director: | Aaron Vanderkley |
| Duration: | 14:28 min |
| Format: | YouTube |
The Fall of Starbase One is an 2018 Australian fan film written and directed by Aaron Vanderkley. It is the fourth story in the These Are The Voyages anthology series.
The film is set at the start of the Earth-Romulan War and references the events of Needs of the Many and The Derelict. Starbase One is attacked by the Romulans.
Summary
May 18, 2156. Earth's first interplanetary outpost - Starbase One - is attacked by a faceless enemy. As ground troops are sent to clear out survivors, an unlikely trio put their lives on the line and take drastic steps to stop a war - but is there more at stake?
Plot
In the wake of a surprise attack, the survivors of Starbase One survey the death and destruction on Main Street, searching for casualties. Romulan shock troops arrive and, despite the best efforts of the MACOs, swiftly overpower the remaining humans. As the Romulans move off, Commander Mackenzie emerges from the rubble, seeking an opportunity to cross the street to the Operations building. On her way, she discovers Ambassador Sultek alive in the wreckage.
The Ambassador, unimpressed by her heroics, suggests they should escape in a Shuttlepod. Mackenzie reminds him that Earth or Vulcan is 45 light-years away, and they are likely to be intercepted by the Romulans before reaching orbit.
Mackenzie plans to enact Starfleet Order 2005, which mandates the destruction of a starship or starbase if it falls into enemy hands. However, all power lines have been severed from the reactor, preventing them from initiating the program in the Operations building. Mackenzie spots a young, injured engineer and offers assistance. The Ambassador tries to contact a friendly ship in orbit, but the Young Engineer reports that the Romulans activated a jamming signal before their attack.
Suddenly, a noise alerts the trio to a Romulan soldier's presence. Mackenzie neutralizes him and is shocked to discover that Romulans, that no one has ever seen in the flesh, resemble Vulcans.
All eyes turn to the Ambassador, who explains that during the Time of Awakening, when Surak led the Vulcan people to embrace logic, a faction fled Vulcan, likely becoming the Romulans. The Young Engineer questions why the Vulcan High Command never mentioned this crucial part of history. The Ambassador explains that revealing it would likely fuel xenophobia.
Mackenzie scans the Romulan, intending to use reactor power to cut through the subspace jamming signal and inform Starfleet of this vital information. The Ambassador is displeased with this change of plan, fearing the chaos it would cause to both Vulcan and human societies.
The trio re-cross Main Street to the Main Reactor building, where the Young Engineer works on redirecting the power flow to the Communications Tower. He warns Mackenzie they will likely get only one chance and that it will reveal their location to the Romulans. Mackenzie remains undeterred.
At some point, the Ambassador has Mackenzie’s stolen weapon and holds her at gunpoint, forcing her to enable the self-destruct system. At the last moment, the Young Engineer summons his remaining strength and knocks the Ambassador to the ground. With the self-destruct halted, Mackenzie races to the Communications Tower to upload the Romulan data.
Back in the reactor room, the Young Engineer is incapacitated by the Ambassador with a Vulcan neck pinch. The Ambassador takes a disruptor and pursues Mackenzie.
Before the upload is completed, Mackenzie is taken down by the Ambassador, delaying Starfleet from discovering the true identity of the Romulans for the next 100 years.
Background Information
- Two sequences were omitted from the finished film:
- "The Fall of Starbase One" originally opened with a night sky, over which would have been a voiceover by the Romulan Praetor ordering the evacuation of Starbase One. The camera would then pan down to Main Street under attack. Due to a change in production location for those scenes, the starfield/voice over sequence was scrapped.
- The second scene, shot but cut, took place just before the title card, in which Mackenzie would explain to the Ambassador that their mission is to prevent a war.
- The set for Main Street is loosely based on the exterior portion of Starbase 11 seen in Star Trek: The Original Series.
- The Starfleet personnel wear a specially designed assignment patch, featuring spires as seen the aforementioned Star Trek: The Original Series location.
- In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode 'Bound', NX-01 Enterprise is scouting possible sites for Starbase One - including Berengaria VII. The script for "The Fall of Starbase One" notes the installation's location as in the Algeron system, as per the book "Federation - The First 150 Years", however this dialogue reference was cut in the finished film.
- The Romulan costumes were loosely based on those in Star Trek: The Original Series, notably the red patterned sash across the chest.
- This story also features the MACOs - Military Assault Command Operations, who were featured in Season Three and Four of Star Trek: Enterprise. Although three uniforms were created for "The Fall of Starbase One", only two appear in the finished film. They featured the names of the regular stunt team from Star Trek: Enterprise - Dorenda Moore, Marco Sanchez and Andrew MacBeth.
- Alongside the props specially created for Star Trek: Enterprise were the Starfleet Class 3 Pulse Rifles (two variants) and the MACO Pulse Rifles. All six props can be seen in the armoury rack in the Operations set.
- Earth and Vulcan are approximately 45 light years away from Starbase One, as noted in the "Federation - The First 150 Years" book.
- While Romulans are known by name, no human has ever seen what a Romulan looks like - as referenced in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Balance of Terror".
- Starfleet Order 2005 was first referenced in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, a last resort allowing for the destruction of a starship or starbase to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
- During the course of the film, we never learn any of the characters names. Mackenzie is always referred to as Sir or, mistakenly, Lieutenant, Sultek is always called 'Ambassador' and the Young Engineer is never given a name.
- Ambassador refers to Surak, the father of Vulcan logic, and the time of 'awakening', a subject matter frequented in Star Trek and explored in a Season Four arc of Star Trek: Enterprise.
- The rumour of Vulcans and Romulans being distant cousins has been explored in later Star Trek, notably in the two-part Star Trek: The Next Generation story "Unification".
- The young engineer mentions that the Romulan's have been attacking starships and cargo ships for the last year, referring to the events in a Season Four arc of Star Trek: Enterprise as well as the previous three short films films - Needs of the Many, The Derelict and Good Men.
Cast
- Rachel Kahan as Commander Mackenzie
- Daniel Buckle as Ambassador Sultek
- Luke Morgan as the Young Engineer (and Romulan Centurion (uncredited))
- Andrew Coshan as M.A.C.O Soldier
- Jack Ryan as M.A.C.O Soldier
- Bella Jones as Starfleet N.D.
- Sarah Sim as Starfleet N.D.
- Katie Lee as Starfleet N.D.
- Fraser Murray as Romulan Centurion
- David Ferrari as Romulan Centurion
- Ron Vanderkley as Romulan Centurion (uncredited)
- Alex McVey as Romulan Centurion (uncredited)
Accolades
| Result | Category | Recipient | Presented by |
|---|---|---|---|
| WINNER | Best Lead Actor or Actress | Daniel Buckle (as the Ambassador) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
| WINNER | Best Director | Aaron Vanderkley (director) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
| WINNER | Best Costuming | Gina Vanderkley (costume designer) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
| Nomination | Best Lead Actor or Actress | Rachel Kahan (as Mackenzie) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
| Nomination | Best Supporting Actor or Actress | Jack Ryan (as M.A.C.O Soldier) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
| Nomination | Best Original Story or Screenplay | Aaron Vanderkley (writer) | 2019 The Bjo Awards |
External links
- The Fall of Starbase One on YouTube
- The Fall of Starbase One on IMDb
- Results of 2019 The Bjo Awards on Treklanta
- The Trekzone Splotlight: On-set for The Fall of Starbase One on YouTube
- The latest Trek fan film from Australia on Fan Film Factor